双语灵修（葛培理牧师） ：1月25日 一生恩典

1月25日

一生恩典

“因为，他的怒气不过是转眼之间；他的恩典乃是一生之久。
诗篇30:5（上）

我们也许会遭受苦难或管教，但是诗人告诉我们，“一宿虽然有哭泣，早晨便必欢呼。”（诗篇30:5下）一粒种子要成长、结果，首先要种在地里，死去。我们要是在生命中成长，也要先在上帝的话语中否定自己。往往在各样的磨难、坎坷、管教、痛苦中，生命开始成长，果子开始结出。犹如炼钢必须在高温熔炉中经历熬炼，这种过程，让我们成为可以被神使用的人。

小孩子是不能上战场的。他必须慢慢长大，有力气、有头脑，然后才能上阵。耶和华的精兵也是如此。约瑟被上帝使用之前，先被弟兄卖掉，又被波提乏关进监狱。那个答应帮忙的法老酒政，两年后才想起他。如果他没有经历这些磨练，上帝也不会使用约瑟。上帝的预备，让他成为埃及宰相，仅次于法老。他才可以在饥荒时期救济所有以色列人。

我们在等候耶和华时，他的帮助不一定立刻到来，因为他有自己的时间表。但是，上帝一定不会迟到。他出现的时机总是最完美的。我们怎样眷顾自己的孩子，上帝也会怎样眷顾我们。祂的恩典乃是一生之久。

今日隽语：
天父，求你赐给我们力量，在苦难中可以坚持到底。求你让你的圣灵充满我们。奉耶稣的名，阿们。

January 25
A LIFETIME OF FAVOR
For His anger is but for a moment.His favor is for a lifetime…Psalm30:5a NASB
We may suffer affliction or discipline,yet the psalmist went on to say,“Weeping may last for the night,but a shout of joy comes in the morning”(Psalm 30:5b NASB).
In order for a tree or any plant to grow and bear fruit,its seed must first be planted in the ground and die.In order for fruit to appear in our lives,we must first be planted in the Word of God and then die to self.In the face of chastening,adversity,discipline,and affliction,fruit begins to appear.
This process,like steel which has been tempered and made strong by the heat of a furnace,makes us useful to God.But what baby is sent out to fight a battle?The baby must first grow in strength,in size,and in wisdom before he is able to fight.It is the same for those whom God wishes to use.
Joseph would never have been of use to God had he not been sold into slavery by brothers who hated him and wrongly accused by Potiphar,who put him in prison.Even after he had told Pharaoh’s cupbearer he would be restored to the king’s court and asked him to tell Pharaoh of his unjust imprisonment,Joseph had to wait two more years for release from prison.
All of this was God’s preparation for Joseph’s ultimate rise to a position of power and authority second only to that of Pharaoh himself,a position he used to feed all of Israel during a famine.
As we wait upon the Lord,God may sometimes seem slow in coming to help us,but He never comes too late.His timing is always perfect.How could it not be so from a God who favors us,as we do our children,for a lifetime?
Pray for the day:
Father,give us the strength to persevere when we suffer.Fill us with Your Holy Spirit,in Jesus’Name,Amen.